At this moment, in Isshiki's alternate dimension.
The gravely injured Isshiki, reduced to only his upper body, staggered as he carried the weakened young Juubi back to his altar palace.
Just moments ago, he had expended his remaining scant chakra to relocate his personal dimension.
In the short term, he shouldn't need to worry about Six Paths Sasuke pursuing him into his dimension again.
But the crisis wasn't over. With less than three hours of lifespan left, Isshiki's severe injuries made it impossible to return to Konoha to reclaim a suitable vessel, let alone fully recover his wounds and condition. Fighting the abnormal Six Paths Sasuke again would be tantamount to seeking death.
"A mere lowly creature, where did he get such terrifying power?"
"This makes no sense!"
"It's impossible!"
The furious Isshiki roared in disbelief, racking his brain but unable to fathom why Sasuke had suddenly become so powerful.
Unfortunately, no one could answer him now. Even more unfortunate, he didn't have time to worry or think.
Unable to recapture Kawaki and with less than three hours left, Isshiki would truly die if he didn't find a way to extend his life!
Of course, Isshiki wasn't without strategies. He had at least three ways to survive:
First: Find another imperfect vessel to temporarily inscribe Kama.
Second: Mimic Earth's ninjas by sealing the young Juubi into his own body.
Third: Find a native ninja to possess and share vitality with.
Each method had its pros and cons.
Finding an imperfect vessel to temporarily inscribe Kama seemed effective. But in just a few hours, finding a suitable vessel was unlikely. Over the years, he had only found one perfect vessel like Kawaki. Even Code was only a half-finished vessel, incapable of reincarnation.
More importantly, even if found, a new vessel with Kama would require years of dissolution. By then, Isshiki would already be dead, unable to control the situation.
If that weak vessel, unprotected, was captured or killed by Konoha, he'd have no hope of resurrection!
Next: Sealing the young Juubi into his body was another option.
With the young Juubi' vast vitality, he could surely heal his wounds, gain a significant lifespan boost, and quickly return to his peak.
But the drawbacks were clear: becoming the Juubi' Jinchuriki would permanently seal it in his body. Since this young Juubi was immature, it lacked the ability to split and plant a small Divine Tree!
In short, sealing the young Juubi would mean Isshiki losing his only chance to plant a Divine Tree and produce a Chakra Fruit!
This directly contradicted Isshiki's ultimate goal!
He had done all this to plant a Divine Tree and obtain the precious Chakra Fruit!
Unless left with no choice, Isshiki would never abandon the young Juubi, his sole hope for a Chakra Fruit!
After all, aside from lowly native creatures in the ninja world, proud Otsutsuki refused to seal the Juubi in their bodies. To them, the Juubi was merely a beast and a tool to produce their Chakra Fruit. How could they merge a beast into their own bodies?
That would be like defiling the noble Otsutsuki bloodline!
After much thought, Isshiki's only viable option was the third method.
Like when he was gravely injured by Kaguya's attack and found the wandering monk Jigen to possess, this method differed from Kama reincarnation. It was a form of symbiotic life fusion.
After possession, the host and possessor's lifespans would be evenly split. Originally, Jigen could only live a few decades, while Isshiki's true body could live thousands of years. After splitting, Jigen survived until now. This was why Jigen, an ordinary human, lived for a thousand years—essentially sharing Isshiki's original long lifespan.
Now, with only hours left, if Isshiki found another human to possess and share lifespan, he could live a few more years, though imperfectly.
This would give him enough time, allow him to retain consciousness to control the host's actions, avoid complete helplessness, and preserve the young Juubi to plant a Divine Tree. For Isshiki now, this was the best choice.
Of course, this method had clear drawbacks:
First: Once possessed, it couldn't be undone unless he reincarnated into a new vessel.
Second: The temporary new host might not even qualify as a vessel, lacking even the potential for Kama like the imperfect Jigen. If the host died, Isshiki would die too!
Unlike Jigen, who could reincarnate and resurrect even after death.
But for Isshiki, these drawbacks were insignificant compared to the imminent threat of death.
Soon, he resolved to find another host.
As for the new host? Isshiki already had a suitable candidate in mind!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
A few minutes later.
At a secret Kara Organization base, Code, an Inner Kara member tasked with guarding the base, was casually eating dinner.
While eating, he grumbled and muttered:
"Guarding this base is so boring!"
"No idea if Jigen's captured Kawaki yet."
"Amado's such a pain!"
"And that bastard Kawaki, so lucky to be chosen as a vessel but unwilling. I'd kill to even qualify…"
"I really don't get what he's complaining about!"
"Damn it, if only I didn't have a defective product but a real Kama—how great would that be!"
Unlike Kawaki's fear and hatred toward Jigen, Code knew the connection between Isshiki and Jigen and revered Isshiki from the depths of his heart, seeing him as a true god who saved him!
He was even willing to offer himself to Isshiki as a resurrection vessel. Unfortunately, he was only an imperfect vessel, unable to fully bear Kama's power. He was merely a secondary choice, inscribed with a White Kama containing only data and power by Jigen, incapable of full dissolution and reincarnation. This fueled his envy and hatred toward Kawaki.
He couldn't understand why Kawaki, so fortunate to be chosen as a divine resurrection vessel, was still unwilling.
What a fool!
As Code complained, a black-red dimensional portal suddenly opened, sucking the bewildered Code inside.
Code arrived in Isshiki's alternate dimension, atop the familiar Otsutsuki altar palace. Looking up, the towering figure of his dreams floated before him.
"You… You're Isshiki-sama!"
Isshiki used his scant remaining vitality to repair his severely injured body, maintaining an elegant and sacred appearance.
Even before his servant, he had to display a perfect demeanor, as if everything was under control, to further dominate Code.
After all, Code wasn't Jigen. If Code resisted with full strength, Isshiki's current poor condition might not overpower him…
"Code, my loyal servant!"
"Isshiki-sama! I can't believe you're actually appearing before me. I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Code was instantly overjoyed, like a fan meeting an idol or a follower meeting a god, nearly crying with ecstatic excitement.
"Amado and Koji have betrayed me."
Isshiki directly revealed the treachery of Amado and Koji, testing Code.
"What? Those two beasts dared betray Isshiki-sama! I'll kill them!" Code was furious, eager to crush both Amados.
In his eyes, everything in the Kara Organization was a gift from Isshiki, including their lives and all they had.
For those beasts to betray Isshiki-sama was unforgivable!
"Code, you're now the only servant I trust most in the organization…"
"I swear I'll never betray you, Master!"
"Excellent, my most loyal servant. Are you willing to give everything for me?"
"I am!"
Code's heart swelled with joy, answering from the depths of his soul. He was truly willing to give everything for his god.
"Very good!"
"Then close your eyes and relax your body."
"I will enter your body, and you will merge with me!"